Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-13
THE yITRIOL CASE.
A Statement from Mrs. W.
r.. .R0zelle.
PErRIEs' FEARFUL CONDITION
A Warrant Sworn Out and Mrs
RQzelle Placed Under
Arrest.

wednesday, bAAeihoou, was th0 ooih "
the town yesterday. The HERALD O.
yesterday morning was the only paper
that gave correct account of the hor-
rible crime, and contained the only state
menis made by the actors in the affair
Yesterday HERALD reporter obtained
m interview with the vitriol thrower,
Mrs. Rozelle, in the presence of her
husband at the house in which they re-
side, I29 College street. Mrs. Rozelle,
who was very cool and collected,
made statement, at times being
prompted by her husband, who appeard
to be laboring under nervous excited
ment.
RosELLE's STATEMENT,
Mr.. Rozelle said; "Petrie came to
live in this house about the
same time 1 did, which was in De-
cember last, after he had separated from
his wife. About this time L went East
and brought my wife back with me
When arrived here the landlady, Mrs.
Martin, told me that she had rented the
back room to Peirie. l objected to his
presence in the house, and told Mrs
Martin that if Petrie and his wife were
going to live there | would leave, be-
cause | knew of his wife's bad charac.
ter. Mrs. Martin told me that he had
left his wife in wife in Sacramento and
was going to get divorce from her, and
| let the matter drop. Ia the latter
part Of January when he was coming up
stairs be threw magazine at my wife's
door and said: "There ia something to
read" When l came up from the en-
gine house | saw the paper and on ask
ing my wife where it came from she
said that Pe;rie had thrown it
told her who Pririe was and aaid that
If he did that again to let me know.
About two weeks after this Petrie took
hick and my wife in going to get q
pitcher of water, had to pass his door,
which was open at the time and within
three feet of the sink. Petrie asked my
wife for glass OF water. and what did
he say my dear?' asked Rozelle of his
wife.
"Well said Mrs. Rozslle, continuing
her husbands story, when | handed
him the water he said we were great.
people tneaning Mrs. Martin and my.
self), for not coming near him or wait
ing on him. | said, what do you think
am. or what do you take me for?' and
walked out of the room insulted. When
my husband came home told him what
Peirie had said"
"Yes," said Mr.. Rozelle. land told
her would tx him. I'll get something
for you to use when he insults you
again. then went to drug store,
continued Rozelle, land got a vial OF
vitriol and told her how to use it. BE
sure and keep your door closed and II
he ever insults you again or comes in
your room throw it in his face / said.
The second time that my wife ever spoke
TO Petrie was when he came in the room
ard she threw the vitriol. About 3
o'clock Wednesday went up town for
walk and when came back my wife
was gone, and / mistrusted something.
Ny wife will now tell you why she
threw the vitriol."
MRS. RozEILE's STORY.
Mrs. Rozelle then said: After my
husband left locked the door aud took
a nap on the bed with my clothes oa.
When | awoke it WAS close on to dinner
time, about quarter past O'Clock l
think. | got ny and combed my hair
and then went and got pitcher of
wafer. | did not lock the door on my
return. was putting some powder on
my face, aud while looking in the mirror
/ imagined / saw the door opened. Turn
ing around L saw Petrie in the room. /
asked him what he wanted, and he said
nothing said, get out OF here, you
rascal He then grabbed me Il was
standing in the middle OF the floor at
the time and pushed me on the bed. |
fought with him and got away.
thought of the vitriol; that was my
whole thought; and going quickly TO
the bureau where it was sanding, l
snatched it up and threw it in his face.
He then reached for the door to 90 out,
but being blinded, put his hands on the
panel of the door, and that is how all
the marks are there. He said nothing.
/ was very much excited and ran down
stairs behind Petrie, but had nothing in
my hands. | then ran up stairs again,
and kept running up and down stairs
three or four times. | saw Petrie run to
the front gate once, while L was on the
porch. He looked at me but
said nothing Then Mr.. Gibson,
who is q brother of Mrs. Mar
tin, the proprietor of the house. took
Petrie around in the back yard where
heard he washed his face with water.
was not undressed as Mrs. Mutually is
reported to have said to the reporter Of
a morning paper" And in proof of this
assertion Mrs. Rozelle unlocked hel
closet and showed the reporter the dress
which she had on at the time and which
was full Of holes caused by the vitrio
that dropped on it.
Mr.. Rozelle then spoke OF Petrie anC
Petrie's wife in very i'll manner. AM
which, If true, shows Petrie and hi
wife to be very bad characters. He ais
said that he had told different partie
that if Petrie ever insulted hi
wife again he would be sorry.
rETRIE's CONDITION.
About 10 o'clock last night the HER
AID reporter went to the Sisters Hosp
tai, OH South Olive street, to see th
wounded man. He was met by Slste
Mary, who stated that the poor man
condition was very alarming; in fact
bad that she had telephoned for DIR. h
s. Orme, Petrie's physician. He passe
good night, but yesterday was yer
feverish aud irritable. He complain
that the acid is still burning into h
skin, aud his face is in fearfully swo
len condition. At this juncture d
Orme made his appearance. The report'
asked the doctor to be allowed to accon
pany him to see the sick man. ID
Orme said he must first learn til
patients condition, and the reporter ST
in the waiting,room. When DIR. Orn
came down, he said that Petrie coul
not be seen by anyone. His conditio
was very serious, and tho least excit
ment might bring ON erysipilas, and th
would probably kill him. He has
strong constitution, and with good ca
we hope to pull him through in two {
ihree.weeks.
Pfie's suffarings are said to be tern
BILE. and his face revolving sight
t.LoIJ The 1aft aua ia faarfuilV aW0llt